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As one surveys the extensive taconite operations on the Mesabi Range, he may find it difficult to believe that only 15 years ago, the iron ore mining industry here was staring at its own imminent demise. Due to the high demands for iron ore during World War II the postwar period of 1946-1950, and the subsequent "police action" in Korea, there was rapid consumption of the Mesabi's already depleted ores, and some economists were giving the Range only 20-25 years of life. In the 13-year period 1941-1953, more than 850 million tons of iron ore were shipped to steel mills, an amount almost equal to the total production during the preceding 30 years. Proven ore reserves dropped from 1.1 billion tons in 1940 to 8.3 million tons in 1954, the largest decrease being recorded in the famed direct shipping ores.

Jan 9, 1968

By C. W. Sherman, J. Chipman, H. I. Elvander

THE pronounced and usually deleterious effects of sulphur on all ferrous metals and the resultant necessity for its control in metallurgical processes have stimulated many investigations of the system iron-sulphur. The data required for thermodynamic study of the behavior of sulphur in molten iron and steel include the activity and free energy of the dissolved sulphur and its heat of solution. Such data are also of theoretical interest since there is all too little information available concerning solutions of nonmetallic solutes in metallic solvents. It was the purpose of this investigation to attack the problem very directly by a study of equilibrium at several temperatures in the reaction H2 (gas) + S = H2S (gas) [1] K1 = PH2S /PH2 as where the sulphur is present in the liquid iron in amounts up to several percent by weight. Such a method of attack is not new since several careful studies have already been reported. It is planned, however, to extend the study to other metallic solvents and particularly to determine the effects of the various alloying elements on the activity of sulphur in liquid iron. This paper presents the results on molten iron-sulphur alloys containing up to 4 pct sulphur in the temperature range 1530°-1730°C. Literature Review The significant researches on dilute molten solutions of sulphur in iron include those of Chipman

Jan 1, 1951

By W. R. Crane

THE effect of mining in the red-ore mines of the Birmingham district has been observed for some time, but, except in a few localities, little difficulty has been experienced from disturbance of cover. Cave-ins near the outcrop and fracturing of the surface at greater distances are the most pronounced manifestations of disturbance, while limited areas at points distant from the outcrop and under greater depth of cover have actually subsided. There is no doubt but that in time, because of failure of pillars, extensive fracturing and widespread settlement of the surface will result, particularly along the slope of Red Mountain, where mining has been under way for many years. Were it not that the orebed is overlain by one or more water-bearing formations, the fracturing or settlement of the surface would not be serious; but because of these formations, fracturing of the top rock may in itself be of sufficient importance to warrant the adoption of protective measures. Until development openings and surface plants are transferred to Shades Valley, protection of the surface will probably not be considered imperative, as the area involved is not of particular value for agricultural or building purposes. Further, the collapse of pillars over a wide area may develop squeezes that, if not controlled, may jeopardize the integrity of the mines and necessitate a change in development, from slopes to vertical shafts, at a much earlier period than is now contemplated. The occurrence of heavy beds of strong tough materials at varying distances above the orebed make it doubtful whether any serious disturbance of the surface will be experienced at any considerable distance from the outcrop, although some settlement will probably take place. It is certain, however, that no great volume of water will enter the mines from fracturing of the Fort Payne chert bed, as this is known to be a compact and practically impervious formation beyond the leached zone. Not so much can be said, however, regarding other possible sources of water, as pervious beds and through faults that may be encountered in future mining operations.

Jan 8, 1925

By Milo Krejci

(Butte Meeting, August, 1913.) THE plant and quarries of the Inland Portland Cement Co. are located at Metaline Falls, Wash., about 128 miles north of Spokane, on the Pend Oreille river, and within 10 miles of the Canadian border. The plant is one of a chain of cement plants controlled by the Lehigh Portland Cement Co., of Allentown, Pa. Work on this plant was commenced in June, 1910, and was completed in April, 1911, but on account of some delays in 'the construction of the power plant, the works were not put into operation until August, 1911. Since then it has been in continuous operation and has furnished the Inland Empire with a high grade of cement. Fig. I is a view and Fig. 2 is a plan of the works. Water Power Development.-The source of the water supply for the hydro-electric plant of the Inland Portland Cement Co. is Sullivan lake, a body of water approximately 5.5 miles long and 0.5 mile wide, situated in the Kaniksu Forest Reserve. A wooden crib dam was installed so as to raise the elevation of the lake 25 ft., and the additional storage capacity was taken up by the diversion of Sullivan creek into the lake by means of a wooden flume, 0.25 mile long, 6 by S ft. in cross-section, and a ditch 1,200 ft. long. The water from the lake follows the natural water course to an intermediate storage reservoir, which was created by the construction of an earthen dam. This pond wits used in connection with the saw mill which was installed at this point. Besides the earth dam, there was also built a crib, at the point shown in the sketch map, Fig. 3. This crib dam is 35 ft. high. From this point the excess water follows the natural course of Sullivan creek to the Pend Oreille river.

Jan 7, 1913

By Allan J. Clark

It is nearly three years since the metallurgy of the Homestake ore was discussed with considerable thoroughness, in a paper1 read before the Institution of .Mining and Metallurgy. Certain changes have been made in this period which are perhaps of sufficient interest to justify a brief description, and it is chiefly with such details and miscellanies that this paper will deal. In the circumstances, a certain amount of repetition is inevitable, but matter treated of in the former paper will be referred to here only when it is necessary for the sake of coherency. For full descriptions of equipment and technique, the former paper should be consulted. The mineralized slates and schists which constitute the ore vary considerably in composition, but the unoxidized ore, perhaps constituting the major part of the reserves, contains either chlorite or hornblende (cummingtonite), with quartz, carbonates of lime, magnesia and iron, and arsenopyrite, pyrite, and pyrrhotite. Ferrous minerals predominate, and this fact has been an important factor in determining the metallurgical treatment. With one or two exceptions the minerals noted are of relatively high specific gravity, and the ore as a whole is exceptionally heavy, many determinations giving an average specific gravity of 3.00. This high specific gravity presents one decided advantage, when the cost of treatment is compared with operations elsewhere, in that the ton, almost universally the basic unit, represents a volume probably less by 10 per cent. than that of many gold ores. On the other hand, this high gravity renders more difficult the discharge of pulp from mortars, its distribution on amalgam tables, and its transportation in launders. In the same way, as attesting the usual balance of such variations of different ores, it may be noted that the needle-like fibers of hornblende (cummingtonite), interlacing throughout the mass, render the ore more difficult to crush than would be anticipated, but on the other hand assist

Jan 1, 1916

By G. R. Hodgson, M. P. Lebourg

The introduction in the field of a new type well completion called for the setting of tubing open-ended in the well before perforating the casing. This paper describes a new perforating tool of the shaped charge expendable type, small enough to pass through tubing and powerful enough to perforate the casing. The perforations are produced at an angle and are large enough for optimum production. Performance of this tool in targets and under various well conditions is described. Very often no lifting equipment will be available at the well. In some cases, pressure will exist in the well at the time of the perforating operation (workover wells or multiple trip perforation) ; therefore, new equipment and new technique for the perforating operation were devised. This paper describes this equipment and technique, particularly casing collar recording, sheave support, and cable pull-down device. this last item being necessary for wells under pressure. Results obtained with this tool in the field are given. INTRODUCTION One of the key requirements for the introduction in the field of a new method of permanent well completion was the development of a new perforating method involving the use of a perforating gun small enough to go through tubing and with enough penetrating power to perforate the casing satisfactorily. The equipment described in this paper was basically designed to go through open-ended two-in. tubing and to perforate 5 1/2 in. casing. The equipment is illustrated in accompanying figures. NEW COMPLETION METHOD With the new permanent type well completion, the production string of casing is run and cemented through the potential producing zone. Open-ended tubing is -then run into the well and used to replace the drilling fluid with oil or water. The amount of the oil or water "cushion" can be varied according to the expected bottom hole pressure. Thus, if desired, the hydrostatic head can be greater, equal to, or less than the expected pressure within the zone to be perforated. Mud having been displaced, the tubing is -then positioned so that the end is above the zone to be perforated. The Christmas tree and flow lines are installed and tested. The drilling rig can now be removed from the well since it is not necessary for the perforating operation, thus resulting in a saving in rig tme. The perforating equipment is then moved to the well and the gun lowered through the tubing. After the gun passes out of the open end of the tubing, the depth measurements are correlated with casing collars and the gun placed opposite the zone to be perforated. Upon firing, the gun body is shattered and falls to the bottom of the well. Since the lubricator has been closed before firing, it is possible to withdraw the casing collar locator and head and then open the well immediately to the tanks. DESCRIPTION OF GUN An investigation of two basic types of Perforators, namely a bullet perforator and a shaped charge gun, was undertaken towards the development of a gun to meet the aforementioned requirements. Preliminary tests on various bullet perforator designs within the diameter limitations did not give results encouraging enough to warrant further study. Somewhat better results were obtained by using conventional shaped charges; but, as in the case of the bullet types, the necessarily small overall diameter proved to be a severe limitation and resulted in insufficient penetration. A shaped charge employing a new design was developed which gave excellent penetration. These shaped charges were designed to produce a large hole directed upward at a 45" angle. In order to obtain the maximum space possible for these charges, it was decided to use an expendable carrier made of drillable material, usually aluminum, which would shatter at the time of firing, leaving only harmless fragments at the bottom of the hole. The fixed spacing is five shots per ft. wit11

Jan 1, 1952

By Franklin Moeller

Considering the really short time that has elapsed since hydro-metallurgical processes of extracting copper from ores have been extensively developed, and the large scale on which this method is practised at Ajo, the successful operation of the plant must excite the admiration of every visitor. The application of the mechanical unloader to the purpose for which it is employed at Ajo is but an extension of the use for which it was originally designed, some 20 years ago, for unloading iron-ore vessels at the lower lake ports. At a time when the maximum output of a single machine, with men shoveling the ore into buckets, did not exceed 40 tons per hour, G. H. Hulett invented and constructed a mechanical unloader with a bucket of 10-ton capacity. This machine was of the steam hydrauIic type, and it is still in operation after nearly 20 years of service. Several more machines of the same type were built, but the difficulties of power transmission, and the rapid development of electrical machinery, soon led to the adoption of electrically operated machines, and practically all of the later installations have been thus equipped. This electrically operated unloader has proved so well fitted for the work that the design of the lake boats has been practically revolutionized, with special view to the ease and rapidity of unloading. It is now possible to unload a 12,000-ton vessel with four machines in a little over 2 hr. This has necessitated an increase in the capacity of the machine, and the largest yet built handles an average load of 17 tons, with a possible maximum of 20 to 21 tons. The Ajo excavator is somewhat simpler in design than the iron-ore unloader, in that it is not provided with a larry. In the unloader, the iron ore, picked up by the bucket, is delivered to a larry or transfer car which runs in the lower chord of the bridge; the larry then delivers the ore either into railroad cars, standing on several parallel tracks, or into the stock pile, thereby saving the time that would be required for the bucket to make the trip. At Ajo, the bucket delivers the tailing

Jan 1, 1920

By W. J. Reagan

THE problem of increasing output and decreasing percentage of rejections is a vital one in the manufacture of steel of any kind. The making of basic open-hearth steel for use in rolled steel wheels, tires for locomotive and car wheels, and forgings of various kinds, is a highly specialized industry. The increase in weight of railway rolling stock of all kinds, and the high speed that the public demands of transportation facilities, make it imperative that steel for use in this class of material shall be of the highest quality obtainable. During the past few years it has been the writer's good fortune to have opportunity-to study the defects in basic open-hearth steel, and also the results obtained by various changes in open-hearth practice, on such defects. The opportunity for study and the details available are rarely found in the manufacture of steel of any kind. It seems reasonable to assume that many of the results determined here can be applied to the production of steel of other types with a decided improvement in quality, a decrease in the percentage of rejections and an increase in output. All of the material described is basic open-hearth steel with the following range of analysis: carbon, 0.50 to 0.85 per cent.; phosphorus and sulfur, 0.04 coax.; silicon, 0.15 to 0.35; manganese, 0.50 to 0.75. All of this material is bottom-cast, therefore tapping and pouring temperatures are higher than in top-cast production. Ingots used in this type of work are of standard length with varying diameters. The ingot is known as duodecagonal, or twelve-sided. The standard body length is 88 in. and the hot top length, 14 in. Fig. 1 shows a typical ingot of this type. The diameter varies from 13 to 30 in. Ingots for special forgings, which cannot be made in molds of standard size, are made in molds of various sizes and designs. These ingots are sliced cold, into blocks of various lengths, depending upon the weight of the forging to be made. Fig. 2 shows the ingot-after coming from the slicing lathe. Just sufficient metal remains between blocks to hold the ingot in one piece while it is being removed from the lathe; then steel wedges are inserted between the blocks and the blocks are broken apart. This affords abundant opportunity for inspection, as the interior of the

Jan 1, 1930

By Gordon M. Yocom

A PROPER consideration of the subject of this paper should include economic aspects as well as the technical phases of the metallurgy, production, and properties of the product. The metallurgical phases of the processing and properties of the product will be considered only from practical aspects and within the scope of the writer's experience with tonnage production. The Bessemer process was invented 85 years ago and became important because it put steel manufacture upon a larger and less costly basis. In America the Bessemer production has declined for many years and has not maintained its proportionate place with the rapid advances of the open hearth. The achievements in the open-hearth field were attained by the greater number of technical people attracted to that branch of the industry. The antipathy of technical students for the older and less popular Bessemer field gradually weakened the forces defending it and retarded the development of new and better methods. In Europe the economic advantage of the basic Bessemer process has not been overlooked and the tonnage usually is greater than that of the open hearth. The acid process has been the subject of renewed attention in America during the past few years and those who are more familiar with it are striving to show that the method is too valuable to abandon. A considerable tonnage of Bessemer-blown metal, in both molten and ingot forms, used in connection with the open-hearth practice makes it an important auxiliary unit to the industry. This practice aids in modifying the price level of heavy remelting scrap in addition to speeding up the open-hearth operation. The use of Bessemer steel has continued not only because of periodic economic advantages but also because of certain inherent qualities of machinability, weldability and stiffness, which are valuable for many applications. The properties of stiffness and rather high reaction to cold-work require some modification in order to meet the demands of modern methods of processing, which involve cold-reduction and cold-forming. At least one factor contributing to the stiffness of this steel is the relatively high phosphorus content of the acid product. The phosphorus content of the Thomas or basic Bessemer steel of Europe is considerably lower than the normal acid product in America. The American industry has continued the use of the acid process chiefly for the reason that the available ores are more easily adapted to this process from both metallurgical and economic standpoints. In European practice the basic process is necessary with the highly phosphoric ores available and it is sustained to some degree by the sale of the rich phosphate slag as a by-product. The basic process was used in this country at several plants many years ago, but was abandoned for economic reasons. A part of the past history of these trials is given here because the author believes it has not been published and it has some bearing on the subject of this paper. The information is authentic to the extent that

Jan 1, 1941

By William B. Plank

A NEW record-a quarter million students in the engineering schools of the United States and Canada-has resulted from the great demand for engineers following World War II. The figures released by the American Society for Engineering Education and which appeared in detail in the Journal of Engineering Education for January 1948, show that, on Nov. 1, 1947, 252,250 students were studying engineering in 149 engineering schools of both countries. There are 244,390 in the 143 schools canvassed in the United States, and 7860 in six schools in Canada. These figures include both undergraduate and graduate students and are therefore comparable with the figures in previous presentations on this subject. This unprecedented engineering student body

Jan 1, 1948

By D. J. Carney, C. W. Boquist, E. C. Rudolphy

Effect of variations in sinter feed composition on sinter strength, bulk density, re-ducibility, chemical composition, and microstructure were determined by sintering experimental samples on a production sintering machine. Increasing amounts of roll scale, ore fines, return fines, and blast furnace slag were most beneficial to feed permeability, sinter bulk density, and strength. Burnt lime additions improved feed permeability but were not beneficial to sinter strength or bulk density. Sinter reducibility was adversely affected by all additives. DEVELOPMENT of methods for evaluating sinter quality, which would in some way predict the behavior of the sinter during charging and smelting in the blast furnace, has been given considerable attention in recent years. In a previous investigation at South Works of the United States Steel Corp., standard sinter sampling and testing procedures were developed.1,2 By modifying the sinter sampling device, a method of sintering experimental mix sinter samples upon a production Dwight-Lloyd sintering machine was also developed. This technique afforded a rapid and controlled method of investigating the effects of the various raw materials and additives on sinter quality and was used in this present investigation. Since the beginning of the present study in 1953, the results of numerous sinter investigations have been published, most of which were concerned with production tests of iron ore sinter, both here and abroad. Three groups of investigators reported results of experimental sinter studies that were related to this investigation. Voice et al.3 studied the effects of controlled variables on sinter quality by producing and testing experimental Northants iron ore sinter using an experimental sintering unit. Mor-rissey and Powers' determined the relationship between iron ore sinter quality and the moisture and coke content using a small laboratory sintering system. Burlingame et al.5 studied the effects of "additives" upon iron ore sinter using a laboratory sintering apparatus and laboratory grade raw materials. At South Works, it was considered desirable to study the effects of sinter mix composition and additives upon the quality of a flue dust-base sinter produced on a production sintering unit. Extrapolation of controlled laboratory test data to sintering plant operation lacking such precise control is not altogether satisfactory. Therefore, the present study was conducted in a manner which approximated production conditions as closely as possible. The raw materials used were those commonly encoun- tered in the production of flue dust and flue dust ore-type sinters and these were varied within extremes encountered in this type of sinter production. Experimental Procedure The experimental sinters were produced from 100 lb mixtures of sinter feed. The principal raw materials and additives used, their particle size, and approximate chemical composition are listed in Table I. The mixing of the raw materials was accomplished by means of a miniature single shaft pug mill shown in Fig, 1. The use of the pug mill as a mixer was decidea upon after encountering difficulty in reproducing the mixing and chopping effect of the sinter plant pug mill with other types of available small mixers. The miniature pug mill was constructed, consisting of 31/2x2x1/4 in, blades spaced 3 in. apart along a 3 ft shaft. Preliminary tests were run with this small mixer to establish the proper rotation speed and the required number of passes through the pug mill to thoroughly mix and distribute all the raw materials in a manner approximating the production Pug mill- Although the effects of varying the mosture content were determined in one particular series of tests, the amount of moisture added was changed as the composition of the experimental mix was varied. The aim in making water additions was to achieve a permeability as high as possible for each particular

Jan 1, 1956

By L. W. Blau

THE entrance of geophysics and geochemistry into petroleum engineering may be viewed with apprehension by some engineers. They may not remember the time when "practical oil men" opposed the invasion of engineers into the field of petroleum production. By their excellent contributions they established themselves. In the popular mind, engis veers are practical men whereas physicists and chemists are suspected of being theoretical. It will be best to annihilate this misconception right now at the beginning of a closer relationship between petroleum engineers. geophysicists, and geochemists.

Jan 1, 1943

By W. G. Fischer

Basic laboratory tests on trona and the surrounding shales initiated the Rock Mechanics program. The stress-strain curve, modulus of elasticity, Poisson's ratio, the uniaxial rock strength, Mohr's envelope, the biaxial stresses at failure, and creep were investigated. A series of underground problems were then approached using this information and various field measuring devices, most of which were developed by the Bureau of Mines. Initially, stress concentrations near mine openings were evaluated using the stress relief technique. This required an accurate determination of the pre-mining stress field. Later, stress concentrations associated with the cave line were studied. After about 30 stress reliefs over an appropriate time interval the effects of one type of mining could be compared against another. The microseismic technique was used to investi- gate a possible application of warning devices near the cave line. A study of mine reorientation was made. Problems related to the shape and size of pillars and barriers were studied. The effectiveness of roof bolting patterns was examined. Control of roof stresses was attempted. A new system of mining in heavy ground has been developed using the information secured in the Rock Mechanics program. Without this system, mining in more than one instance would have been next to impossible. Indeed, from this one discovery alone, the Rock Mechanics program has paid off in improved safety as well as in dollars. The Westvaco trona* mine is located near the town of Green River in the southwestern corner of Wyoming. It is owned and operated by FMC Corp. on land leased from the US Government, the State of Wyoming, and the Union Pacific Railroad. A conventional room and pillar system is being used, (Fig. 1) with complete removal of the pillars during final mining. Return air bleeders surround

Jan 1, 1964

By R. P. McLaughlin

In most branches of the mining industry it is a well-recognized fact that care must be taken to protect the mineral deposit from undue physical injury. It is comparatively easy to grasp this idea when the mineral is a solid and the lives of workmen depend directly upon the care with which it is removed from its natural position, but when the product is a liquid drawn up from pools several thousand feet beneath the surface of the ground through openings only a few inches in diameter, it requires some imagination to picture underground conditions and the changes which must often occur. The development of the petroleum deposits of California has been attended by numerous accidents, the results of which are readily noticed at the top of the wells and in the profit and loss accounts of the operators. Determination of the cause of these accidents has been the subject of considerable study, which naturally has fallen upon men familiar with technical methods. The greatest damage to the oil deposits of California has resulted from water finding its way into the oil-bearing sands, and it is the purpose of this paper to set forth briefly this phase of the oil industry. Much of the material here presented has previously appeared in publications issued by the California State Mining Bureau, which, under the direction of State Mineralogist Fletcher McN. Hamilton, has investigated the subject and taken steps toward improvement of conditions. The writer, having been in charge of this branch of the Bureau work, has gained considerable knowledge of existing conditions. Generally speaking, the oil-bearing formations of California are soft, unconsolidated sand beds, separated by clay strata, which are also soft. Some of the sand beds carry water instead of oil. All of the beds are more or less separated, probably being of lenticular shape. Very few of the beds in the oil fields lie flat or undisturbed over any great area. Folding and tilting are common, and faulting also occurs in some of the fields. The accumulation of oil is not confined to any single structural feature, such as the anticline, but occurs in many other structural features. Water-bearing strata occur in practically every oil field in the State. Complete data are not at hand for a comparison of the damage

Jan 1, 1916

By Kenneth B. Ray, George R. Gardner

The application of wet cleaning processes for the beneficiation of bituminous coal has created in some localities a problem in the recovery and disposal of fine solids in the washery water. The maximum allowable concentration of these solids in the washery circuit that is consistent with satisfactory operation of the cleaning units remains a controversial point. It has, however, been generally recognized for a number of years that some degree of control should be exerted over the concentration of such material. Early methods of control involved intermittent or continuous discharge of a portion of the plant slurry into near-by streams or settling ponds, and this persisted even after the adoption of settling tanks or cones. The practice is not always economical, for two reasons: first, because of the waste of coal, and, second, because it is sometimes difficult and expensive to obtain an adequate supply of water. The latter condition often is aggravated by chemical treatment of the make-up water that is necessary to prevent excessive corrosion of plant equipment. The modern approach to this problem has been the adoption of continuous thickening devices. However, because such equipment occupies considerable plant space and is somewhat expensive to construct, the practice of loading these thickeners beyond their rated capacity is widespread, therefore often the performance of such units is not altogether satisfactory. In recent years, European washeries have increased the rate of settling of the fine coal from the slurry by the addition of specially prepared starch solutions. These reagents cause flocculation of the solid particles and thereby increase the rate of sedimentation. The first important work on the flocculation and clarification of coal slurry was done by Henry, who developed the Henry process and used it successfully in Belgian preparation plants. Soon after the initiation in Belgium, the process was introduced into England, where subsequent investigation developed similar processes, which were successfully used in

Jan 1, 1940

By George R. Gardner, Kenneth B. Ray

The application of wet cleaning processes for the beneficiation of bituminous coal has created in some localities a problem in the recovery and disposal of fine solids in the washery water. The maximum allowable concentration of these solids in the washery circuit that is consistent with satisfactory operation of the cleaning units remains a controversial point. It has, however, been generally recognized for a number of years that some degree of control should be exerted over the concentration of such material. Early methods of control involved intermittent or continuous discharge of a portion of the plant slurry into near-by streams or settling ponds, and this persisted even after the adoption of settling tanks or cones. The practice is not always economical, for two reasons: first, because of the waste of coal, and, second, because it is sometimes difficult and expensive to obtain an adequate supply of water. The latter condition often is aggravated by chemical treatment of the make-up water that is necessary to prevent excessive corrosion of plant equipment. The modern approach to this problem has been the adoption of continuous thickening devices. However, because such equipment occupies considerable plant space and is somewhat expensive to construct, the practice of loading these thickeners beyond their rated capacity is widespread, therefore often the performance of such units is not altogether satisfactory. In recent years, European washeries have increased the rate of settling of the fine coal from the slurry by the addition of specially prepared starch solutions. These reagents cause flocculation of the solid particles and thereby increase the rate of sedimentation. The first important work on the flocculation and clarification of coal slurry was done by Henry, who developed the Henry process and used it successfully in Belgian preparation plants. Soon after the initiation in Belgium, the process was introduced into England, where subsequent investigation developed similar processes, which were successfully used in

Jan 1, 1940

By C. S. Blair

THE development of a geological department as an integral part of the Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad Co. in the Birmingham district, Ala-bama, in 1908 was an innovation probably unique for any mining organ-ization south of the Ohio River, At that time a few of the oil companies were starting geological departments, but there were no geologists among the larger industrial organizations. The Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad Co. had been a substantial producer of pig iron for many years and was just getting a start in the manufacture of steel products from the pig iron. It had large acreages of coal land, ore land and timber land, but there was lacking the detailed knowledge of the possible mineral resources of much (of its territory, and this territory at that time covered an area in the neighborhood of 500,000 acres in the states of Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia. Those responsible for the operations of the mining properties, not being familiar with the kind of help that might be expected from geologic work, were decidedly skeptical of the utility of the work. Therefore it was necessary to develop cooperation with the mining organization, by not infringing upon its functions, and by developing the work in such a manner as to demonstrate to the mining department its practical utility. In the first instance the man responsible for a mining operation is apt to assume the attitude that the geologist is a blockader, because the geologist, unfortunately, is obliged to point out difficulties in the carrying out of mining operations in the way originally planned. He points out the dangers of mining out one coal or metal seam at the ultimate expense of an upper or lower seam, and he develops structural features, such as faults and folds, which call to the attention of the mining operator diffi-culties in his future operations, which the latter had not anticipated. Eventually, however, -the value of having these data became ap to the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Co., and the operators not only welcomed the geological work and cooperated fully in its acquisition of essential information, but reached the point of asking assistance and advice; and complete coordination of the two activities has existed for many years.

Jan 1, 1933

By H. H. Uhlig

SINCE its first mention in the literature in the eighteenth century1,2 the phenomenon of passivity in metals has stimulated much speculation and attendant controversy as to its nature and cause. No one of the numerous theories so far proposed has been generally accepted. ? Faraday,7 in 1836, associated the passivity of iron with a protective film over the surface of the metal, which materially prevents or slows down reaction with corrosive environments. His theory was that oxidizing acids like nitric acid form an unstable oxygen or oxide layer over the iron surface, which protects the underlying metal from further attack. This concept was simple yet plausible, and without alteration has frequently been assigned in present-day discussions as explanation of the passivity of many metals. With the advent in recent times of stainless steels, it is not surprising that this oxide film theory of passivity proposed by Faraday has been used to explain the phenomenal corrosion resistance of stainless steels and other passive alloys. The passive alloys, such as the chrome-iron alloys, are supposedly covered with a protective oxide film, which forms on exposure of the alloy to air, is extremely stable and self-healing, and accounts for the remarkable resistance of these alloys to corrosion. Within the past few years, several investigators, following the theory of film protection, have attempted to gauge the resistance of the supposed film on steels. Brennert8 and Donker and Dengg9 determined the poten-tial at which a negative ion (e.g., Cl-) moving in an electric field reacted with the metal anode, as detected by increased current flow or change in potential of the steel electrode in an electrolytic cell. The potential corresponding to reaction Brennert called the film break-through potential.

Jan 1, 1939

By S. J. Prison, C. R. Smith

The effect of fluid injection to control water coning in oil and gas wells was investigated. Analytical and model techniques were employed. The factors investigated were the position and length of the completion interval, the point of fluid injection, the viscosity of the injected fluid and the relative thickness of the oil and water sections. The resulting influence of these factors on the net producing water-oil ratio was determined. Several important conclusions can be drawn from the study. In general, it was found that the net producing water-oil ratio can be reduced by fluid injection. The magnitude of this reduction depended on the factors listed above. An important practical consideration is that the injection fluid may be either oil or water. If the injected fluid is less dense than the connate water of the reservoir, the fluid will not be lost. This fact is reassuring when valuable oil is being injected. Efforts to suppress water production were more successful when the injection fluid was more viscous than the reservoir oil, or when a zone of reduced permeability existed in the vicinity of the point of fluid injection. Under test conditions, little benefit was derived through the use of impermeable barriers or cement "pancakes". INTRODUCTION The occurrence of water coning has been known for at least 60 years. In thin oil or gas pay sections, the presence of an oil-water or gas-water contact hinders production and often causes early abandonment of the afflicted well if a completion is even attempted. Even when relatively thick pay sections are found, the encroachment of water when a water drive is present will eventually pose serious water coning problems. This water is often corrosive, expensive to separate from the oil or gas and is costly to dispose of. The theory of water coning has been discussed by a number of authors. 1,2,3,4 Briefly, water coning to the producing interval in a well is due to pressure gradients resulting from the production of fluid from the reservoir. These pressure gradients will cause a water cone to rise toward the bottom of the producing interval if a water-oil or water-gas contact exists. The tendency of the water to cone is offset or partially offset by gravity forces since the water has a higher specific gravity than the oil. A balance then exists between two forces, gravitational forces arising from the difference in specific gravities of the oil and water, and the pressure gradients causing the flow of fluids to the wellbore. If the pressure gradient exceeds the gravitational force, water coning to the wellbore occurs and water production results. Through the years considerable thought has been given to the water coning problem. More than 50 U. S. Patents have been granted to inventors on the subject. A relatively complete literature review of the water coning problem has been made. 5 A number of these patents hold considerable promise for the solution or the partial solution of the water and/or the coning problem. Very little has been written describing field tests of techniques for the suppression of water coning. A notable exception is the paperby West. 6 He reports success in reducing gas coning by a combination of gravel packing and oil injection above the oil-producing interval. He also describes a comparable method to prevent water coning, but provides no field examples. This study experimentally and analytically verifies the benefits of oil injection as a means of partially or completely suppressing the water cone. While the gas coning problem was not treated, it is anticipated that results comparable to those obtained in water suppression could be obtained with reduced oil injection since the viscosity contrast between oil and gas exceeds that between oil and water. For the purpose of this study, the conventional potential flow theory was applied to the water-coning problem. The experimental verification centered on both a radial and a linear model. The model study permitted the investigation of complex flow configurations and the use of fluids of differing densities and viscosities. No analytic expressions are available to permit a solution of the problem as stated (see Fig. 1).

By Donald H. McLaughlin

THE primary function of the mining engineer is to find mineral deposits and fuels in the accessible rocks of the earth and to recover them for the vast needs of our complicated civilization. On him has been placed the responsibility for the exploitation of the nation's and world's mineral resources. The degree to which the minerals of the earth have been utilized serves to an extent as a measure of man's material advancement, as well as an index of the relative strength of nations. The natural endowment of lands, varies greatly, but the intellectual energy of a people is revealed by the way in which they take advantage of their heritage of minerals or reach out to less developed regions by exporting their engineering skill as well as capital to secure the raw materials they need.

Jan 2, 1953